3-D video wall at UH holds big promise for learning, research

A "data visualization" prototype being developed at the University of Hawaii could represent the future of learning and research.

MANOA, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

The CyberCANOE is a video wall comprised of 18, 46-inch monitors that are 3-D capable. It’s the latest in visual learning. It’s also just a prototype.

CyberCANOE, which stands for cyber-enabled collaboration analysis navigation and observation environment, is housed in the Laboratory for Advanced Visualization and Applications at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

And there are big hopes for what this system will eventually be able to do.

"We hope in the end this will be a system that is so mesmerizing that you can't take your eyes off it," said professor Jason Leigh, who helped found and is the current director of the laboratory.

Leigh just got a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation and another $257,000 from UH to develop the system.

He's still fundraising for the three-year project. Once complete, it has the potential to entirely revolutionize learning and research.

"What the technology will allow is for you to display information as visualizations at resolutions that are beyond anything you've seen before," he said.

Students are already benefiting from the early model, as Leigh teaches classes in the lab.

Chris Lee, director of the UH Academy for Creative Media, said he sees immense potential for the project.

"When it comes to telling a story, working with a visual media -- across the board whether it's kids coming out of Waianae or the kids we've had here at Manoa -- they're just really good at it," he said.